Letterman Jacket Bling is all the latest craze! Here at Colorado Crystals we have been applying them for years and have seen some amazing Jackets done by others!

Why not Join in on this fun way to show off your personality! Contact Us for help! We can apply them for you and take off the stress and time it consumes! Or we can guide you with purchasing the right Swarovski crystals to be applied! Whatever you decide we are happy to help out!

Visit our Store to find amazing prices, colors and sizes of Swarovski Crystals! Home to all Bling Needs!

Happy Blinging!

Bling out your Letterman jacket and show off your personality!

Here we attached approximately 630 Swarovski rhinestones in the color Crystal Shimmer! This stone color will pull white in 3 different shades. The main size used is ss20 however there are some 12s and 16s in some areas. Let us know if we can help with more information! PS We used e6000 for this project.

If you are looking to make your own Colorado black & silver hat Bling Swarovski unique hat here are some suggestions we have for you!

Wash your hat prior to applying the rhinestones! (We just tossed ours in a delicate wash and dried for a moment in dryer then set out on dryer to finishing drying) This will help remove any oils that is left on the embroider or stitching left on the logo of the hat.

Lay out the stones first to make sure you have enough crystals and to help navigate where will apply the correct sizes.

Glue suggestions:

If you are one that washes your hat often we recommend GemTac white glue as it is a permanent washable glue. If you don’t wash them that often then use e6000. PLEASE keep in mind that e6000 is no longer a permanent washable glue. It is permanent water resistant only. After multiple washes the glue will loosen up. GemTac takes longer to dry and doesn’t hold up as great however long term it does. Where e6000 will hold tight but if wanting it for years and washable it will loose its hold over time.

Last we use a syringe in size 16g (For sizes 12s and up) or 18g (for size 12s and down) E6000 only a few drops at a time GemTac we do more and let sit slightly and sometimes top off if needed.

Applying the Rhinestones we use a birthday candle! Yes, thats right the flat part or the bottom of a birthday candle! Why? A number of reasons!

Havaianas Flip Flops with Swarovski Crystals added for summer fun! Recently we visited Vegas for a much needed vacation and were looking for some summer fun! We found some black Havaianas and added some Swarovski flat back rhinestones to them!

At first this seemed like an easy DIY then we struggled for a bit and in the end found that it is a great summer project for anyone to try! WE ended up using a super glue called Loctite Super Glue (Gel version). It took us sometime to get the hang of it, so we recommend practicing before doing a full pair for a gift! We were thankful these were for a trying out job!

Some tips we found….

A. when scrapping off the logo and the ridges use both an Xacto knife and a piece of sandpaper. (We tried only the knife and some stones never did lay flat)

B. roll up a sock or anything similar so that the straps will lay flat, snug and remain in place while working.

C. Lay out a few stones at a time before gluing them down. (There are times that you have to leave a little space so that the pattern can continue the same.)

D. Even though the solid look is amazing to look at it is harder to keep them nice and perfectly aligned. We would recommend leaving a very tiny space in-between the stones.

WE have to say though…Havaianas Flip Flops with Swarovski Crystals added for summer fun; have held up amazingly! We actually even accidentally left them in the hot sun in Vegas for a few hours! OOPS! (WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS! HAHA!) And we still haven’t lost one!

These ended up using almost 2.5 gross of the Crystal Shimmer in size ss12 and 1gr of Jet Hematite in size ss12. We didn’t quite finish one bottle of glue off either! WE used a candle to attach them and a skewer to straighten them out when needed!

Happy blinging and Contact Us for any other questions or projects you would like us to share about! Happy to help in any of your Swarovski Rhinestone Needs!

Need your Team Gear Blinged? It’s that time of year when many teams are getting ready for their next season! Being involved in a Cheer, Dance, or Gymnastics team there are so many things to think about! From uniforms, competition leos or costumes, fan gear, warm-ups, shoes, bows and a whole lot more. It is hard to decide sometimes what will look or fit your team best! At Colorado Crystals we try to post pictures of many team gear items so you as the team member, mom or coach can get some ideas for your team!

This photo of Team Gear Blinged by Colorado Crystals using Swarovski Rhinestones shows some ideas. Visit our Rhinestone Gallery to see additional team gear that might work for you! Keep in mind that most of these photos are of projects that Colorado Crystals was asked to do the work for a team. However MANY teams purchase Swarovski Crystals from us to do their own work!

If you need help with figuring out how to do your team project we would love to give you ideas or tell you different ways that we have seen work for us! Also take a look at our Learning Center for more details on some projects. No secrets here at Colorado Crystals ~ Just fun with Swarovski Crystals!

Swarovski Rhinestones added to all your team gear! Ideas here are done by Colorado Crystals. Learn to do your own and purchase your bling here! We love to help you out in whatever you need!

Getting ready for the big tryout day can be stressful; yet fun all at the same time! Here we will try and answer a few question we get asked a lot! After purchasing a tryout/audition outfit: where to add crystals so it feels right? Picking out the outfit is hard enough so don’t let adding stones to it worry you!
Here are some of our suggestions!
One of the most important things to do is make sure you are yourself! As much as you need to blend in with the team needs you will want your judges to remember you! That means we completely understand the need to stand out from all the rest of the competitors. With so many talented girls out there it is important you feel your best! When trying to figure out what to wear for your tryout/audition outfit: where to add the crystals; you will want to make sure it shows off your strengths and not what everyone else is wearing.
Let me try to explain this a little better: Some girls are very outgoing so adding a lot of bling is perfect for them! They might choose contrasting colors from the outfit, add larger stones and use anywhere from 3 gross to 10 gross! Then others are not as much and so maybe their strength is their flexibility, strong arms or an amazing back! If that’s the case you would want to add some crystals to the area that will accent your best features. Maybe smaller crystals that blend with the color of the material around the legs, arms or on the back of the outfit. These girls maybe would use more like 2 gross to 4 gross in total rhinestones.
However always remember; what is the first thing someone looks at when looking at other people no matter what the situation? Their face and SMILE not their toes so make sure you smile with all the confidence in the world! Another suggestion could be to add some crystals in your style to an area that will accent you smile! Maybe it’s a simple headband or on one strap, whatever it is make sure it is your personality! Try this one:Flower Headband
In this photo of a rhinestoned tryout/audition outfit: where to add crystals we used a little under 2.5 gross. It was made for someone trying out for an NFL team. We used 2 colors (Crystal Moonlight and Sun AB) in mostly 2 different sizes (16ss & 20ss). An additional third size in the center piece; 12ss to fill in the tiny spaces. Always remember to wash the area prior to adding the crystals. Read instructions on outfit first! Usually you can hand wash in cool water with a delicate liquid soap. We do not wash our items with OXI CLEAN or Fabric Softners as it can take away the glues or added sparkles in materials. Most also suggest to hang dry items.
We hope this helps answer a little on tryout/audition outfit: where to add crystals!

Gift Idea? How about a Sorority water bottle with Swarovski Crystals on it! This beautiful water bottle was made for a “big sis” for a sorority in Arizona. Making gifts can make a bond even closer because it has your personal touch to it.

All you need for this project are:
1. Water bottle – we recommend using one that doesn’t sweat
2. Swarovski Crystals – Flat Back non hot fix. (check out our Store for many options)
3. Epoxy Glue – that dries clear and has a heat resistant bond (So they can be washed in a dish washer for ease!)
4. Permanent Marker
5. Rubbing Alcohol
6. Dry erase marker – Just in case you make a mistake!

Directions:
First we suggest you wash the water bottle. Then once dry wipe the area you are applying the stones with rubbing alcohol. (It helps take off any dirt or oils left on the bottle) Then draw out your logo or design using your permanent marker. Don’t worry if you make a mistake drawing it out! That’s what the dry erase marker is for! Did you know you can wipe off your permanent marker if you first go over it with a dry erase marker? YUP! It works wonders! Let it dry and wipe it off! However don’t forget to wipe clean again with rubbing alcohol! Once design is set, apply epoxy and stones and let dry and set for a good 12-24 hours!

We hope you have fun making your sorority water bottle with Swarovski Crystals!!!

**Note we recommend hand washing the water bottles, BUT just in case your “big Sis” throws her Sorority water bottle with Swarovski crystals in the dish washer she should be ok!

Looking for another DIY Project? How about DIY Cards with Bling! These are very easy to make! This set of DIY Cards with Bling was made as Grad cards however you could make thank you’s, invitations, weddings, get well’s, Birthday’s or any occasion! Sending DIY cards with Bling will make anyone smile! Here’s a little tutorial on how we made them!

Items needed:
*Card Stock
*Scissors or Paper Slicer
*Fake flowers – Any size or shape that you can take a part to lay flat
*Glue – a White glue such as Gem tac (e6000 worked for the more difficult flowers)
*Swarovski Rhinestones from Colorado Crystals;)
*Inserts with information, writing or saying

Directions:
1. We started by cutting the Card stock in half. (Depending on the size of the card you want them to finish as will depend on the size to cut the card stock)
2. Take apart the fake or material flowers. As you see in the picture any size or style will work as long as you can get a good size center piece to stay flat.
3. Glue on your flowers and let them dry completely. White glue like Gem tac works great if you have flat flowers. You don’t need to put a ton of glue on! We found it was better to do small dots in many areas and press the flowers flat to dry.
4. Make your inserts on a different paper.
5. Print off and cut out your inserts
6. Glue on your inserts with the information
7. Add rhinestones to your flowers!

AND you are DONE with your DIY Cards with Bling! A couple of notes; if you put too many rhinestones or Crystals on, the weight of the card can get heavier than what a standard stamp will cover to mail. (We only had 1 out of 75 that was to heavy!) Also we found that sometimes the cheaper the flower the flatter we could get it and the cleaner it looked. Also remember glue dries clear; so clear on black or dark materials can be seen! What we found best was to glue 3-4 cards at a time and then put a heavy item such as a book over the top to hold them in place to dry. (Make sure whatever you are putting over the top doesn’t stick to the flowers! We used an old cutting board. The glue can seep through a little if the material is really thin) If the glue shows thru… Cover it with a rhinestone!

Rhinestoned Grad Cap! A perfect way to celebrate your graduation! From High School to College it is a day to remember forever what you or your child has accomplished! How about a gift from parents, friends or family that you can hang on to as a keep sake to remember all that you have done. The best part about these is that you can add your personality to them. This rhinestoned grad cap was for a girl who loves pink, bling and cheetah print! She wanted to use hers in her senior pictures to show off all that she loves! This solid rhinestoned grad cap is made with Swarovski rhinestones and has over 3,650 crystals. I know this post is a little after graduation season however its never to late to start thinking about next year; especially since school starts soon! As we all know it comes around faster than you think. As a mom myself I can’t believe how time flies! I thought for sure I would be able to sit back and enjoy all of her senior year and finish all these mementos for her! Yet it came and went so fast and I didn’t get to the GREAT Ideas! HA-HA! However time spent is more memorable than any gift… So maybe use it as a mother daughter bonding time and work on it together throughout her final year!

We are now offering assorted Crystal packages! These amazing low price crystals are a great place to try out your rhinestoning skills! All the packages are made up of Swarovski Rhinestones. We have mixed together a variety of rhinestones to choose from! Some packages will have mixed sizes, others mixed colors, and some will have a mixture of everything! You also get to pick which cut of stones you would like! (2028, 2058 and 2088) Most assorted crystal packages have only 1 available and with these low prices they won’t last long! This is also a great place for those kids who are wanting to learn how to bling on their own! Check back soon with us as we will be adding more! When looking at the photos they are of the items in that baggie! So look closely and happy blinging!

This beautiful fitness bikini competition suit was made by one of our customers! If you think you can’t do this rhinestoning or blinging thing you can! Here is a prime example of a Colorado Crystals customer trying to do it on their own; and we think they did an amazing job! They purchased the suit and then purchased their crystals from us. They used a variety of sizes in the rhinestone color; Crystal. When we asked how was it? They said, “It was so much fun!” And they were thankful they tried because it saved them money and they were able to see their finished work on themselves! We asked if they felt like it was hard? They said, “At first it was a little scary so we started in a place that wasn’t shown as much and worked our way around and it got easier as time went on. In the end, no it wasn’t hard and we will be doing our next competition suit the same way; purchasing the suit and rhinestoning it ourselves.” Thanks for sharing your pictures and ideas!